Responsible gaming

At its best, playing in online casinos is an entertaining, exciting and profitable activity.

We believe in helping our community get the most out of its gaming experience, so we also have some information to disperse about responsible gaming.

We know everyone loves a win – whether that’s a few pennies at the poker table or a massive progressive jackpot – but it’s important to not lose sight of the losses.

As any seasoned and sensible player can confirm, the magic of online casinos lies in the thrill of playing the games, rather than their outcomes.

This is a view we strongly support, but some players can still get entangled with addiction. If problem gambling is left unaddressed, it can lead to serious financial, personal and mental issues.

We care about your wellbeing and so do the best online casinos out there. There are options available to you if you feel that your gambling behaviour is getting out of hand.

How to gamble responsibly

The golden rule in the world of online casinos is to know your limits and never go past them.

Don’t treat playing as an opportunity to indulge recklessly. Instead, take careful decisions about how you spend your time and money, where to play, how to have fun and when to stop. As the saying goes, by failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.

These guidelines are a good start to gambling responsibly:

Set betting and loss limits based on money you can afford to lose early on, and stick to them

Talk to someone if you feel your gambling is spiralling out of control

Underage gambling

Underage gambling is prohibited by law and online casinos should take the necessary measures to ensure that no one under the age of 18 is permitted to play.

Gambling can prove risky for adults if not managed properly, and can be downright harmful to minors. At Bojoko we make it clear that we only accept users over the legal age of 18.

This is to safeguard the interests of groups who are especially vulnerable to the ill effects of gambling.

How to recognise if you have a problem

Problem gambling doesn’t happen overnight so it can be hard to diagnose in yourself or others.

The symptoms usually develop over time and the earlier you notice them, the higher the chances of making a quick recovery without any further negative consequences.

Here are the classic signs to look out for:

You play with money you can’t afford to lose and money that should be going towards essential expenses such as rent or a mortgage, utilities, groceries etc.

You spend too much time gambling with increasing sums of money.

You chase your losses and believe you have special luck or abilities, or that you’re due a change in luck.

Playing is no longer fun; you feel you need to play no matter what and you’re constantly preoccupied with the next opportunity to gamble.

You do or are willing to do anything to procure money for gambling, including borrowing, cheating and stealing.

You’re late to appointments, absent for increasing time periods from commitments such as work or school, call in sick more than average, and act secretive about your whereabouts.

You’ve undergone changes in your personality. You exhibit frequent mood swings, seem worried, agitated or irritated, and you’re sometimes in distress or depressed, with a tendency for manipulative or controlling behaviour.

Your finances are in bad shape.

Your loved ones are suffering the ramifications from your gambling and have pointed out you might have a problem.

More information about gambling addiction is available on the NHS website. If any of the above sound familiar to your situation, it might be time to assess your gambling habits.

Seek help immediately if most of the symptoms described apply to you. Acting in good time is the best possible thing you can do for your health and the wellbeing of those closest to you.

What to do if you have a problem

If you’re displaying signs of problem gambling or addiction, there are many avenues that can help you take a step back or get the support you need.

Depending on how severe the problem is, you should either try toning down your gambling behaviour, withdrawing completely or seeking help from professional sources.

TAKE A SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST

Some gambling support organisations and online casinos offer a self-assessment facility which allows you to determine whether a gambling problem is present, and how severe it may be.

SWITCH ON "REALITY CHECKS"

“Reality checks” are notifications that appear in online casinos which remind you about your playtime. These measures were implemented by the Gambling Commission in the UK to ensure that players are alerted about the length of their sessions on a regular basis.

TAKE A BREAK OR SELF-EXCLUDE

You can be the master of your own self and elect to take a break from gameplay when you notice you’ve been playing for a while. In this way, you can assert more control over the time you spend playing and the choices you make.

Online casinos are also required to offer the option of self-exclusion. You can request to be barred from accessing your player account for a length of time ranging from hours to years, and delete your account permanently too.

BLOCK ONLINE CASINO AND BETTING SITES

Going a step further than self-exclusion, blocking online casino and betting sites can be done if the temptation to gamble anywhere is too strong.

You can do this by tweaking the settings on your browser or operating system. Using a password-protected website blocker or gambling-specific blocking software is a smart choice.

gamban®

The best software for blocking gambling websites (including online casinos, sports betting, bingo, lotteries and any other form of betting) in the UK.

GamAnon

The equivalent of Gamblers Anonymous for relatives and friends of problem gamblers and addicts. A fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, partners, children or close friends and relatives of compulsive gamblers based in the UK and who have been affected by their problem.